Piper James Cleland Richardson died the day after his actions, for which he earned the Victoria Cross. He had inspired his comrades shortly before the bloody capture of Regina Trench.
“Things looked very bad and then it was that the piper asked if he would play his pipes—“Wull I gie them wund (wind)?” was what he said.
I told him to go ahead and as soon as he got them going I got what men I could together, we got through the wire and started cleaning up the trench.”
Company Sergeant Major Mackie
The Death of Piper James Cleland Richardson VC
The short life of James Cleland Richardson VC is both poignant and pertinent to the broader narrative of the Scottish diaspora at war. It encapsulates the experience of a young, newly-arrived Scottish emigrant to Canada who so very soon after his arrival volunteered to defend his recently left homeland and the Empire. Sadly as with many others who had made similar journeys he was to make the ultimate sacrifice.
David S. Forsyth
In these words is told first hand the story of one of the most outstanding instances of heroism associated with the name of the 16th Battalion – The Canadian Scottish Regiment.
Then the story continues with the discovery of his pipes, lost on the battlefield, and identified over 70 years later.
Voyage to England
By these means esprit de corp strengthened and before the voyage had finished, the 16th men had fought their first battle for the rights of the new Battalion. The men of the 14th Battalion had interfered with the pipe practice of Piper James Cleland Richardson.
The news spread around and the 16th men of all companies, irrespective of tartan, gathered together. They called out the complete Pipe Band, escorted them to the 14th Battalion quarters and stood guard there whilst the pipers played to their hearts’ content.
The Battle of the Somme
The struggle to capture Regina Trench during the Battle of the Somme began after the initial attack at Thiepval on 26 September 1916. An incredible panorama of the battlefield captured on the day before Piper James Cleland Richardson’s Victoria Cross action.
The attack on 8 October 1916 would be carried out much as the failed attack of 1 October. However, this time with the 1st and 3rd Divisions. Both went over the top before dawn behind a creeping barrage towards the maze of trenches making up the Regina system.
Most of the battalions again ran into uncut barbed wire It funneled them into concentrated zones of German machine gun fire. Both attacks, on the Quadrilateral and Regina Trench proper, ultimately repelled as the Canadians were pushed back to their jumping off points.
Regina Trench
At the beginning of the advance all went well. “Looking towards the left,” states an officer stationed on the right flank of the leading wave, Number 1 Company. “By the light of the bursting shells I could see the Battalion advancing in long, snake—like lines well between the two barrages; the lst Brigade attacking battalions on our right were coming forward steadily in the same fashion.”
“We got off on time,” writes an officer present on the left flank of the second wave, Number 3 Company. “In good formation, but owing to the darkness and the fact that the assembly trench was crescent shaped, direction was lost in certain cases. Some men from our right worked across to our left as far as the 13th Battalion. And, a few of the 13th men, one young officer in particular, came over on to our front.”
Barrage
“When our barrage started,” says Company Sergeant
Major Mackie, advancing on the left flank of the leading wave Number 4 Company. “Major Lynch, Captain Bell, Piper Richardson and myself went out of the trench. After waiting five minutes we bade good-bye to Captain Bell who was to take over the second line of the Company, and Major Lynch gave the order to advance.”
The three of us walked in front of the leading line. Piper Richardson on the Major’s left and I on his right. The going was easy as the ground was not cut up. About half-way over I commenced to wonder why the piper wasn’t playing. I crossed over by the side of him to ask the reason. He said he had been told not to play until ordered to do so by the Major.
The Wire
“On coming in sight of the wire I ran on ahead and was astonished to see it was not cut. I tried to locate a way through but could find no opening. When the company came up the enemy started throwing bombs and opened rifle fire. Seeing a big shell hole on the left I ran over to Major Lynch to ask him to get in there until I could get the wire cutters to work on the wire. But, as I got up to him he fell—shot in the breast. I knelt to bandage him but saw he was breathing his last. Piper James Cleland Richardson came over to me at this moment and asked if he could help. But, I told him our company commander was gone.
Wull I gie them wund
“Things looked very bad and then it was that the piper asked if he would play his pipes—“Wull I gie them wund (wind)?” was what he said. I told him to go ahead and as soon as he got them going I got what men I could together, we got through the wire and started cleaning up the trench.”
The situation on the centre and left of the Battalion front, where the wire totally uncut, at the time Richardson started to play desperately critical. Not a 16th man had got over the wire. The two waves had now merged. From the outside of the entanglements some of the men were bombing the German trench. Others trying to force a passage by beating down the wooden stakes, on which the wire was supported, with the butts of their rifles and trampling the wire under foot.
The enemy, as Mackie states, was retaliating with bombs which fortunately fell short. But, his rifle fire from behind the parados of the trench, where many of the garrison had retired to escape from the bombs of the 16th men, deadly accurate. It seemed as if the attacking troops to a man would become casualties.
Snipers Show Mercy
Richardson, at this moment, took the lead and according to the
evidence of different men, played up and down in front of the wire for fully ten minutes.
Piper James Cleland Richardson only eighteen years old. Not originally detailed for the attack. He asked to be paraded before the Commanding Officer. And there pleaded so earnestly to be allowed to go into action that Colonel Leckie finally granted him his wish. Killed a few hours after he performed the gallant deed described above, which earned a posthumous Victoria Cross.
Piper’s in Battle
The death of Piper James Cleland Richardson at Regina Trench has already been described. Before the war over, several more of the pipers had been killed and six wounded. All but two of these casualties incurred whilst the pipers leading the advance in battle.
The bravery of the pipers bound to assist in maintaining fighting morale in the Battalion generally. What is the piper playing that surges the blood in the hearts of men on the battlefield?
The Pipes: Onset
(Somme, September, 1916) by LIEUTENANT Joseph Lee Dedicated to Major Angus MacGillivray
The cry is in my ear, The sight is in my eye, This is the dawning of the day That shall see me die
What is the piper playing That battles in my blood?— Winds in it, Waves in it, Waters at the flood; Sadness in it, Madness in it, Weeping mists and rain— What is the piper playing That beats within my brain?
Sobbing and throbbing Like a soul’s unrest; I drink his madd’ning music in As milk at my mother’s breast: Flame in it, Fame in it Love and all desire
The clean hills, The clear rills, The smouldering peat fire; Glances sweet, Dancing feet, Beating on the floor; Maidens fair, Comrades rare I shall meet nor more.
The cry is in my ear
The sight is in my eye, This is the morning of the day That shall see me die
What is the piper playing That surges in my blood? The soft breeze In pine trees, The hawthorn I’ the bud; The lone tarn, The golden barn, Fields of waving grain— What is the piper playing That beats within my brain?
Red war screams from his reeds And in the thrumming drones There lurks the lapping of men’s blood, And sobs, and dying groans: Night in it, Fight in it, Wraiths of stricken men, Ghosts of ancient clansmen
Sweeping down the glen; Life in it, Strife in it, Whisp’rings—it is well, If you bear a foeman down Right to reddest hell !
What is the piper playing? For now I may not hear . . . The glamour comes across my soul, And the cry is in my ear.
Victoria Cross
Piper James Cleland Richardson posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions on 8 October 1916, during the Somme Offensive.
“For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty when, prior to the attack, he obtained permission from his CO to play his company ‘over the top’. As the company approached the objective, it was held up by very strong wire and came under intense fire, which caused heavy casualties and demoralized the formation for the moment. Realising the situation, Piper Richardson strode up and down outside the wire, playing his pipes with the greatest coolness. The effect was instantaneous. Inspired by his splendid example, the company rushed the wire with such fury and determination that the obstacle was overcome, and the position captured.”
(London Gazette, no.30967, 22 October 1918)
Following this action, Richardson assigned to help transport the wounded and enemy prisoners. Realizing he had left his bagpipes on the field, he returned the following day, against advice, to retrieve them. Richardson never seen again and presumed dead on 9 October 1916. Posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross two years later in October 1918.
Manitoba Free Press
One rather curious press report featured in the Manitoba Free Press on December 5, 1918, not long after Richardson’s family accepted his Victoria Cross, categorically states that Richardson’s body was found on the morning of October 10, 1916. This article was based on the testimony of an officer of a Manitoban battalion which had been detailed to take over the sector of the line previously held by the 16th Battalion.
While bringing back the men who had been wounded during the attacks of the previous day when Richardson had piped, the un-named Manitoban officer stated: ‘that an officer form an adjoining company came upon the body of a piper and the blood-stained pipes’. If true this is the only piece of evidence which suggests that Richardson did successfully retrieve his pipes prior to his death.
Unfortunately this report does not expand on whether or not the pipes were buried with the dead piper. Although the assumption can be made that they must have been.
DAVID S. FORSYTH, Principal Curator, Scottish History & Archaeology,
National Museums Scotland
Decorated Pipers
Jimmy Richardson awarded the Victoria Cross later on 22 October 1918 for his action at Regina Trench. James one of four members of the 16th Battalion to merit the Victoria Cross. Other decorated pipers of the 16th included Pipe Major James Groat DCM, MM and Piper George Firth Paul MM. Richardson only the third piper in the British Commonwealth to receive the Victoria Cross since instituted in 1856.
In June 1920, Richardson’s body discovered by a farmer about 300 metres north of the northeast corner of Le Sars village. Jimmy’s father, David Richardson, Chief of Police in Chilliwack at this time. Jimmy interred at Adanac Military Cemetery (Plot III, Row F, Grave 36). Located on the east side of the D107 Road, 1.6 kilometres north of the village of Courcelette, France.
But where are the pipes?
The Pipes
A British Army Chaplain, Major Edward Yeld Bate, had found the pipes in 1917. After the Great War, Edward, whose father also buried at Marthall (All Saints) Churchyard, donated a set of bagpipes to Ardvreck School in Scotland where he taught.
The pipes sat unidentified for several decades, and served as a broken, mud-caked, and blood-stained reminder of an unknown piper from the Great War.
A parent of one of the pupils discovered that the bagpipes bore the tartan of the Canadian Scots and very probably were those played by Piper Richardson.
retired English teacher Martin Bates
Bates’ 96-year-old aunt had received letters from the Pipe Major of the Canadian Scots asking for any records that might show how he came by the bagpipes.
Pipe Major Roger McGuire
Andrew Winstanley of The Canadian Club of Vancouver and Pipe Major Roger McGuire largely responsible for the investigative work into identifying Richardson’s pipes. Pipe Major McGuire travelled to Scotland in January 2003 to identify the pipes that had been displayed at Ardvreck School for over seven decades.
The 2003 statue ceremony in Chilliwack
Tomas Christie
Tomas Christie, a parent of students at Ardvreck School and also a piper, initiated the search for the origin of the pipes. Pipe Major Andrew Winstanley serving with The Canadian Scottish Regiment since 2019, his second stint, but now as a civilian.
Sergeant Joshua MacDonald
Their collective effort led to conclusive evidence that identified the pipes as those played by Piper James Cleland Richardson on that day in 1916. An anonymous donor facilitated the purchase of the pipes on behalf of the citizens of Canada. In October 2006, a party of dignitaries visited Scotland and received the pipes from the Headmaster of Ardvreck School for repatriation to Canada.
The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s)
On 8 November 2006, the bagpipes officially repatriated when troops from The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s) placed them at the British Columbia Legislature as a reminder of a generation’s valour.
The pipes now rest in the Canadian Scottish Museum in the Bay Street Armoury in Victoria, British Columbia.
The Band Today
Apart from day-to-day support of the Canadian Scottish Regiment‘s military duties and ceremonies, the Pipes & Drums frequently featured in the cultural community of the City of Victoria. The Regimental Pipes and Drums are just one member of the Regimental musical family. There is also an active pipe band in the 2136 Canadian Scottish Cadet Corps in Victoria, as well as the pipe band of the Canadian Scottish Regiment Association.
At times the three bands combine to perform for events like the Canadian Scottish Regiment Ceilidh and Remembrance Day ceremonies.
Pipe Major Roger McGuire CD
Drum Major (Sgt) Glen Ereaut CD
Drum Sgt (Cpl) Andrew Appleby
Legacy
There is Memorial Stone dedicated to Piper Richardson VC at Bridgeton Cross in Glasgow. Piper Richardson was a pupil of the nearby John Street Secondary School when his father was a policeman in the Royal Burgh of Rutherglen prior to the family emigrating to Canada. He is also remembered on the Rutherglen War Memorial.
Charlie McDonald
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One response to “Piper James Cleland Richardson VC in the Great War”
There is Memorial Stone dedicated to Piper Richardson VC at Bridgeton Cross in Glasgow. Piper Richardson was a pupil of the nearby John Street Secondary School when his father was a policeman in the Royal Burgh of Rutherglen prior to the family emigrating to Canada. He is also remembered on the Rutherglen War Memorial.